The Winnipeg Jets have traded captain Andrew Ladd with defenseman Jay Harrison and forward Matt Fraser to the Chicago Blackhawks in exchange for Marko Dano, a first-round pick and a conditional pick. Winnipeg will also retain a portion of Ladd’s salary.

Ladd is a pending unrestricted free agent and probably wasn’t going to return to Winnipeg. Shipping him for Dano and a first-round pick is a good return for general manager Kevin Cheveldayoff. Dano is on his third team in less than six months, but that’s not because of a lack of talent. The 21-year-old center was traded to the Blackhawks in the Brandon Saad deal this offseason and has appeared in 13 games scoring one goal and two points. Dano joins a promising young core in Winnipeg. Adding a first-round pick in the deal gives the Jets another future asset.

Ladd reunites with the team he won a Stanley Cup with in 2010. He was arguably the biggest name available with the upcoming deadline, and the Blackhawks certainly paid a high price to acquire him. He’s put up a solid season with 17 goals and 34 points in 59 games and adds to the impressive top-six forward group the Blackhawks have assembled. Harrison and Fraser will likely be depth players, and are largely inconsequential in this deal. Ladd’s obviously the big kahuna here.

The deal makes sense for both teams. The Jets add a good young player and a draft pick for future gains while the Blackhawks get another top-six winger to improve their already high Stanley Cup chances.

About Liam McGuire

Staff writer for The Comeback. I also write for Awful Announcing and Vice Sports. I previously worked for TSN Radio 1050 and TSN Analytics. Proudly born in Nova Scotia, Canada. Email --> LiamMcGuirejournalism GMAIL.com